As more and more attorneys are starting solo/general practices, it is important to know some fundamentals of immigration law. This is especially true in Tennessee, where we have a large population of immigrants, some with legal status and others without any status.

After seven years of providing free legal forms and explanatory booklets, we at Southeast Tennessee Legal Services find that many of the same documents can be used for three different but related purposes.[1] There is overlap between self-representation, pro bono counseling, and even limited representation by an attorney for a fee.

Introduction. The economic substance doctrine has been a long-standing judicial doctrine disallowing tax benefits arising from transactions that meet the technical requirements of the Internal Revenue Code but do not result in a meaningful change to the taxpayer’s economic position other than the purported reduction in federal income...

By the time you read this, we will have likely voted as a state in the Super Tuesday primaries. This election season seems to be more divisive and polarizing than any that I can recall. With all of the issues swirling around, it is important to remember that we play a unique role in our political process. Far too few people in our society have an...

The Tennessee Bar Association was recognized in October with three Luminary Awards from the National Association of Bar Executives. The Tennessee Bar Journal earned a Luminary Award for The Law Launch Project, which followed 15 law students through their last year of school.

Stephanie A. Elkins recently joined the Nashville law firm of Morgan & Akins PLLC, where she will focus on civil litigation, including workers’ compensation and insurance defense. Prior to joining the firm, Elkins was a law clerk to Justice Edward Thomas Brady of the North Carolina Supreme Court. She earned her law degree from the...

Former Criminal Court Judge and TBA senior counselor FRED A. KELLY died Sept. 27 at the age of 93. Kelly graduated from the University of Tennessee and later served in World War II, earning the rank of captain. He graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1948 and began practicing law in Gallatin. A native of the city, he went...

Corporate crime is big news. Lawyers practicing in Tennessee face an increasing likelihood of being asked to assist business clients in responding to an allegation of criminal wrongdoing. To protect the business and to avoid inadvertent harm to others (and your license), counsel must both understand the attorney-client privilege of an organization.

Mary Pullins was a young mother (age 22) in July 1973 when she was admitted to Fentress County Hospital complaining of chest pain. During the evening of July 20 she was bitten on the left thigh by a brown recluse spider. These deadly pests infested the exterior of the hospital; some crept inside through crevices. The All-American Extermination Company...

Like many lawyers, I’m addicted to caffeine. Every morning when I’m on my way to my office, I stop at the Starbucks at the corner of Union and McLean in Midtown Memphis. I am to the Midtown Starbucks what Norm was to Cheers. At the Midtown Starbucks, everybody knows my name.

When I walk in the door at Starbucks early each morning, I don’t even...